By Lookout Staff

January 19, 2010 -- Recognizing Santa Monica's growing preservation movement, the Santa Monica Conservancy will hand out a record number of awards at its annual meeting later this month.

Among the projects recognized by the eight-year old non-profit group are several single family homes, the 100-year-old pier and the City’s Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE).

“We have some wonderful historic preservation efforts taking place in Santa Monica,” said Carol Lemlein, president of the Conservancy's board.

“By presenting these awards, the Santa Monica Conservancy applauds and encourages those who embrace historic preservation which, in turn, contributes to making Santa Monica a more attractive place to live, work and visit.”

The awards will be presented at the Conservancy’s Annual Meeting in the historic Miles Playhouse in Christine Reed Park on Saturday, January 23.

The Conservancy’s David Cameron Award will be given to Planning Director Eileen Fogarty for leading "the way in formulating the November 2009 Draft Land Use and Circulation Element which recognizes historic preservation as a core community value, promotes historic preservation incentives, and integrates historic reservation into the planning process."

The President's Award will go to the Pier Restoration Corporation for the 2009 Pier Centennial celebration commemorating the history of the iconic landmark.

Scott Lander will receive the Restoration Award for his "ambitious restoration" of Richard Neutra’s 1937 Barsha House at 302 Mesa Road.

"After years of neglect following its 1950s relocation from North Hollywood to Santa Monica Canyon, it is now a premier example of Neutra’s innovative modernism," the Conservancy said..

The following companies and individuals also will receive awards:

• Cameron Strang, owner of a historic John Byers house at 2101 La Mesa, will receive the Rehabilitation Award for restoring the original adobe façade and for "renovations that respect the original spirit of Byers’ Spanish Colonial Revival architecture."

• Joy Jones, owner of 404 Georgina, will receive the Renovation Award for rescuing an important early (1920) John Byers adobe from demolition and spearheading "a creative renovation that respects its original architectural character."

• Stephen Chao, owner of 211 Alta (formerly the La Palama Bungalow Court ), will receive the Adaptive Reuse Award for converting a multi-unit Craftsman bungalow courtyard complex into a single family home, preserving its exterior architecture and streetscape presence.

• Red Bull North America, Inc., at 1740 Stewart Street, will receive an award for "transforming a vintage industrial building, originally used for manufacturing, into a unique and imaginative corporate headquarters."

• Michele Nasatir, owner of the Embassy Hotel Apartments at 1001 3rd Street, will be given the Stewardship Award for "outstanding dedication to preserving the magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and decorative enrichment of this landmark building."

In addition to the Preservation Awards, the Santa Monica Conservancy will recognize two individuals for their exemplary volunteer efforts.

Attorney Ken Kutcher of the Santa Monica law firm of Harding Larmore Kutcher & Kozal, LLP, will be recognized for Outstanding Service for "his pro-bono work on the Shotgun House lease negotiations and also for initiating zoning changes providing incentives to facilitate new development on large lots with small landmark structures."

And Kay Pattison will receive the Volunteer Service Award for her "many contributions to the Conservancy’s popular Downtown Walking Tour and the Annenberg Community Beach House docent program."

The annual meeting is open to members of the Santa Monica Conservancy and their guests. For more information, see www.smconservancy.org or call 310-496-3146.